Myth of the Moon Goddess - The Aradia Chronicles, Books One, Two and Three

by Rane, April

  “From you I received the breath of life, and unto you I would give over this breath… for any reason you ask,” she told her mother. “I tell you this out of the deepest love and admiration for the queen you are, and the mother you have always been. I will go gladly upon the mission set before me, because until I give over this life to the cause of the goddess, I do not have the right to fully declare myself your daughter.”

  “I had a vision of Arcadia in a dream many eons ago,” Diana murmured in response. “She was the high priestess who led us here to the moon, to begin our lives of freedom. In the dream she spoke of you before you were born. She knew you would be a great teacher. Arcadia gave you her crown. Here, let me show you, exactly as she showed me.”

  Rising, Diana went to the etching box made of sand. Gracefully picking up a long ornately carved writing stick she wrote the name Arcadia. Taking the letter ‘C,’ she erased it from its place and put it above the name Aradia. Now, resting above the name as it did, the ‘C’ appeared to be a crescent moon, looking for all the world like a crown glistening in the morning light.

  “Know that this mission is what you were born to do,” Diana went on. “Arcadia named you. She gave you her crown, to show that you carry her name forth. Go now and shine like your name. Wear the crescent moon as a reminder of the one who gave you this gift, and with pride of your ancestry, bring this name to Earth. Many will tremble at your knowledge, and woe unto the man who tries to still your hand of magic, for your spells will be stronger than evil.”

  Taking her daughter’s hand, Diana spoke of the life that Aradia would embrace in her journey upon earth.

  “Teach and gather women to you to learn the ways of the old path, to protect them from those who would do them harm. Teach them of sisterhood and magic herbs for healing. Teach them to speak their truth and hold their ground. Teach them pride in those who came before them and awe for those who yet follow.

  “Your mission on earth is to teach heart’s desire,” said Diana, “to those who cry out in the night against a system patriarchal in its nature and brutal in its actions. For all earthlings are losing sight of the goddess, as they strive to be heard above the din of war, poverty, and ignorance. I bless you, The Goddess Aradia. Hold fast to this name, for there are those who will try to eradicate it. Go forth and teach them well.”

  Thus began Aradia’s preparation to move through the galaxies and heavens on her sacred passage to Earth, carrying with her a strong sense of duty and the belief that she was, as her mother had put it, “to make war on men,” for it was those of male breeding that looked disdainfully upon those who had wombs. They lusted after them, craving their softness, yet fearing their strength. They made light of women’s feelings, for such things led to heart’s desire. This they somehow knew, although they did not truly understand. So men burned and pillaged temples and villages alike, killing women or making them slaves, changing the face of the Earth from a peaceful society to a warring one, in the name of religion and in the name of God.

  After much time spent on the astral realm in preparation for her descent, Aradia was called to the Temple of Knowledge.

  A great hush came over the temple as a tall, sleek goddess, wearing a shimmering turquoise robe, drifted into the room. A touch of glitter extended across her high cheek bones and flowed up into her raven hair, splashing it with twinkling stars. Golden flecks of color danced in her deep sable eyes and a smile crossed her lips as she studied Aradia.

  As the two proud and beautiful goddesses stood in quiet assessment of each other, Aradia bowed her head momentarily showing respect toward her elder.

  “My name is Desimena,” said the goddess, her lilting, musical voice matched her ethereal beauty. “I am to be your spirit guide once you descend to earth. There I will assist you whenever you need guidance, advice or direction. I will never tell you what to do, for that would hinder your free will. I will simply, guide. Planet Earth is breathtakingly beautiful, but it is none-the-less a difficult school, for it is a place of polarity, choices and karma. It is my duty to inform you of the manner in which you will complete the lessons you will choose for yourself.” The goddess paused, her eyes blazing with intensity.

  “You have shown great courage and perseverance in your training as an initiate,” she continued, “both in the Temple of the Sorceress on the Moon, and here on the astral realm in the many halls of study that assist souls in their evolution. But the initiation of the Goddess on Planet Earth is most difficult because the Veil of Forgetfulness is heavy upon the Earth. It is entirely possible that you will feel separated from your celestial beginnings, and it is for this reason that you have undergone such stringent instruction here on the astral realm. You have, I see, chosen your earthly family. Now it is time to choose the lessons you are to learn in Earth School.”

  Aradia fidgeted, aghast at the suggestion that she was to learn anything, as she had been under the impression that she was to be a teacher during her earthly sojourn. She was about to protest, but Desimena’s commanding voice continued.

  “Giving up your immortality means that you will be subjected to the laws of karma,” said Desimena, “and you will not be allowed to return to your heavenly abode until you have learned your lessons through and with the help of the spectrum of the Seven Sacred Rays. I must ask, are you entirely sure that you wish to journey to the Planet Earth?”

  Aradia tried in earnest to be reverent, but feeling that Desimena was attempting to deter her from her mission, she spoke boldly.

  “I have given a pledge unto my mother. I am anxious to fulfill that promise and I am ready to descend, despite the fact that I have just learned I am going to the School of Planet Earth.”

  There was impatience and signs of rebellion in the look Aradia cast on Desimena, but in the end, she decided discretion was the better part of valor. “Will you speak to me of the Sacred Rays?” she asked, reluctantly lowering her eyes.

  “I shall give you a basic understanding of the Rays. The light of the Goddess expresses itself in seven tones,” said Desimena, “seven vibrations or frequencies which hold distinctive qualities. These tones move out in waves from the Goddess toward each soul that chooses to inhabit Planet Earth. Like attracts like; therefore the lessons that are desired by individual souls attract the most appropriate frequency to aid them with their intentions.

  “The frequency of the wave determines its color and each frequency holds specific characteristics such as honor, faith, charisma, self-esteem, dignity or the power to command. These attributes can be used for good or ill, and can either challenge or aid individuals to evolve toward enlightenment.

  “The Karmic Council,” said Desimena, turning to acknowledge the colorful array of goddesses that had quietly joined her, “recommends that you begin with the Red Ray and move systematically through each ascending ray. In this way you will progress more quickly and have additional understanding of the evolution of the soul. We will now outline the Red Ray for you.” And with that Desimena proceeded to summarize the first ray.

  “Red is the color of the Ray of Sacred Purpose and Will. The Goddess of this Ray is called Enchantress of the Wheel of Life and Death. It is the objective of this Ray to supply power and passionate intensity to evolve all beings upon Planet Earth. The life force of the human body is emanated from the frequency of this ray. Entities born under this ray have the ability to ignite others with passion and to assist them in finding a purpose or direction in life.”

  ~ “The lessons that will be offered to you if you choose the Red Ray will be of the nature of security. You will need to learn to accept your family such as they are, recognizing that your family of origin was picked by you to assist you in the lessons of the Red Ray. You will need to learn to express a passion for living, and recognize you will be challenged in some way to learn survival skills. You will need to discover how to become responsible, and to live an honorable life. ~ On Earth, if you refuse the lessons offered by this ray, you will negate life and chooses ange
r over love-lethargy over passion- malice over honor.

  “The Key words associated with this Ray are ~ Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. After hearing the qualities of the Red Ray, do you agree with the council that you should begin there?” asked Desimena lovingly.

  “Yes, as I am to teach when I descend, I would think that passionate intensity would be helpful,” said Aradia. “Also you mentioned learning survival skills. Seeing as Earth holds a karmic frequency, obviously I will need to learn to survive without creating karma, as I don’t intend to spend more time than I need away from my celestial home.”

  “Yes,” said Desimena with a glint of mischief in her eye, “that is the challenge. But I am sure you will not spend any more time than you need to… on earth. No matter what, remember I will always be with you. And so, it is time-let us descend. We have made you ready for Planet Earth; I do hope Earth is ready for you!”

  *There is a difference between the soul ray (derived from the day and time you are born,) and the personality ray which is fashioned by a combination of residue karma, your name and birth date, thereby creating the dominate color in your aura. It is the latter that is referred to in this book.

  **The description of the remaining rays can be found in the back of the book.

  There is a fine line between pride and humility. If you are too humble you lose yourself in meekness. Too much pride becomes arrogance, and in arrogance you lose yourself, just as surely as you do in humility that serves no purpose. ~ Desimena, spirit guide to Aradia

  Our story begins approximately two thousand four hundred years ago in the city of Volsinii, a beautiful wide open plateau on top of the greenest hills in the ancient country of Etruria.

  “Grandmamma, where are we going?” Aradia asked, gaily skipping circles around the ageless figure leading her down the village path. “How come Sardiana can’t come?”

  Her grandmother could hardly keep up with the flood of questions. These were just two more in the torrent that had followed since they left home.

  “We are going to see the widow Leana Figante because I am teaching you the craft and your sister doesn’t have the gift,” the old woman told her.

  “What gift? Maybe I could give it to her.”

  “Yes, you would if you could child, but it doesn’t work that way. Either you are born with it or not. Do not get me wrong child. Everyone has a bit of the gift. But most are afraid of things they do not understand, or cannot see. You know how you see the little people dancing around you? Have you ever seen them dancing around anyone else?”

  “Yes, Grandmamma,” Aradia said, squinting her eyes. “I have seen them around you. I see colors around other people, not fairies! Most of the time the colors are pretty and bright like a rainbow, but sometimes they are quite ugly. They look like the pea soup mamma makes me eat. Yuck! Or sometimes like dreary dark clouds.”

  “Yes, of course around me,” explained Grandmother with slight impatience, yet smiling with pride at the gift her granddaughter possessed, “but what I am asking is when you go to the woods or the river and see the little folk, are they different from what you see dancing around you and me?”

  “Yes…” Aradia hesitated, realizing for the first time how different they were.

  “The ones at the river are gnomes, elves, and fairies, and they work with the trees and flowers to make them grow,” explained her grandmother. “Then there are the special ones that you see dancing around us. These are “elementals.” They work with humans and do their bidding. When you work with them, learning as you have to use the proper words and intonations, you form a special bond between the two worlds.”

  “What do you mean? Do their bidding?”

  Grandmother shifted her weight from side to side. “Remember how nasty old man Gramaldi used to behave?” the old woman asked her.

  “Oh yes, he scared all of the children. He would hide behind his bushes and jump out with an ugly mask covering his face and nothing else on. I remember the time I ran over and pulled on his…well, you know…”

  “Yes, child, all of the city knows, as well. Gramaldi told all of his old cronies he would hurt you because of that! Ha! I hope you pulled it hard enough to hurt the old bastido. I sent the elementals to sour his cows and poison his pigs,” she added, touching Aradia’s hair lovingly. “But best of all, his chickens flew the coup! Furthermore, I warned him that if he harmed one little hair on your head, he would not awake to see the new day. And if he jumped out at the bambinos again, his manhood would turn black and fall off. These, my child, are the things the elementals can help you with.”

  “How can they make his, you know…turn black and fall off?”

  Grandmother looked at her beloved granddaughter through blue-green eyes that seemed to hold the depths of the ocean. Her long dark silver streaked hair worn braided on top of her head had a mind of its own and she was forever tucking stray strands behind her ears. Her slightly hunched back and shoulders were the only evidence of her years. Smooth olive skin, unlined except for the crinkles at the corners of her eyes, radiated health and vigor, giving the impression of timeless youth.

  “Ah, we are here. Not one moment too soon,” she said as they entered a house which was like any of the other houses in Volsinii, long, narrow and dimly lit.

  “Come, child, it is your time. Let us go in. You will do the spell. You will use the words I have taught you and you will call on the elementals. Be firm in your intentions when you call them to dance, and strong with your words when you send them to do your bidding.”

  The widow Figante, a short plump woman dressed in the customary black of the village widows, warmly welcomed them and chatted like a magpie as she led them to a small room in the back of the house. Her thin brown hair, streaked with gray, was pulled back in a bun revealing a roundish face. Her deep brown eyes darted expectantly to grandmother and then granddaughter. Tools for the garden hung on the wall, and the room smelled of animal dung.

  “Leana, Leana,” said grandmother, wrinkling her nose, “This is the first spell my granddaughter will make. Is it necessary that we use this unpleasant room?”

  “But…it is for privacy we come to this room,” huffed Leana, irritated at the rebuke. “You told me privacy!”

  “I did not tell you animal dung, huh?” spat Grandmother, while sniffing the foul air with disdain. “No matter. We have wasted enough time. Leana, tell the child what it is you need. I have taught her well!”

  As the widow Figante woefully recited the tale of her un-betrothed daughter, Madeline, to Aradia, Grandmother noticed the deep look of understanding in her granddaughter’s eyes and she nodded in approval. Aradia decisively stepped toward her grandmother who was holding the brightly colored bag she always carried. Aradia’s precocious manner slipped as childish glee lit her radiant face when she excitedly drew open the ribbon and removed a sprig of basil, a pinch of sea salt and a vial of sacred rose oil used for making love spells, all nestled amongst the many herbs and potions within the colorful sack.

  With a quick wave of her hand Aradia motioned the two women to step back. Casting a protective circle of salt on the crude, dusty floor, she stepped into the center, preparing to open the veil between the worlds. Her small voice became deep, confident, and full of arcane mystery as she proceeded to call upon the lofty ones. Using the secret and sacred names of the mysterious leaders of the elementals, her special friends arrived as always colorfully dancing in the light as she chanted her spell.

  “Gob of the mighty earth, protect us and hear our plight.

  Paralda of the mighty air do not make Madeline wait.

  Dejin who dances in fire of might, place Madeline in her lover’s sight

  Necksa bind together these lovers and for all time hold them tight.”

  Turning slowly and then more rapidly, her gaily tinted robe became a swath of color as she danced in the middle of the circle. Casting basil into the air, she conjured the protective genies of the four directions. Holding fast to the
rose oil, Aradia passionately sang out the ancient Etruscan words that her grandmother had taught her. Kneeling down in reverence, as if taking a sacred vow, she placed drops of rose oil ever so lightly onto the palms of her hands. The warmth of the oil permeated the whole of her body, traveling ever so slowly up her arms, reaching and going through the top of her head. Closing her eyes, she continued rocking back and forth, forming words that became a chant.

  “Dejin, who dances in fire of might, place Madeline in her lover’s sight.

  Dejin, who dances in fire of might, place Madeline in her lover’s sight.”

  After a few moments had passed, she opened her eyes and looked directly at the widow Figante. “Place mallow in a colored pot outside your door. Shortly a man of honor will come to court your daughter.” She lowered her eyes. “It is done. So be it.”

  “Aradia, you frightened me! What are you doing up in a tree?” exclaimed Sardiana in shock, as she peered out of the library window.

  “I am watching a spider weave her web, and reminiscing about Grandmamma. Although it has been many years since she passed, I still miss her so. It was she that taught me that the spider web is to remind us that life is eternal. Then again, I believe it also teaches us not to weave yarns, or we might get caught up in them.” Aradia’s eyes misted over with rich memories. For a brief moment she gave herself over to the past.

  “Well…no matter; back to your problem. By the way, where has he gone?”

  Sardiana turned her head with an air of insouciance that didn’t quite suit her. “Whom do you speak of?”

  “The statesman of course! You know perfectly well to whom I refer. Trying that look of indifference is not getting you out of this conversation!”

  “He’s looking for Father. He caught me…unaware,” stammered Sardiana, her face blushing with embarrassment. “I did not know that there was anyone in here. I – I know that he was being condescending, but I… ”